Hi All,
It's been 6 months since I had written a post. May be I was lacking the energy or drive to write one. But something that I experienced today, left me determined to write one.
Today, on the eve of Diwali, my mother and I went for a little stroll and combined it with a little shopping. There is something called Monday Market at the place we live, where things are on display at several streets of the market area. Also, the shops remain open. One can see the perfect harmony of shop owners and hawkers here.
Moreover, on the occasion of Diwali or Deepavali, the festival of lights, the trees on either side of the road were decorated with small coloured electric light bulbs giving a complete new look to the place. You name what you want and you will find one. But yes, you can bargain to get the same thing at a lower rate. Even without the bargaining, they are sold at an affordable and agreeable rate.
Speaking of malls,even the products you wouldn't find there will be on sale here in these crowded streets. All you have to do is a bit of walking. So, holding a big shopping bag in one hand and the other one wrapped around my mother's arm, I set out for a real Indian shopping.
First, we bought some jasmine garlands for the occasion and then later we halted at a shop displaying the latest range of rangoli designs. I choose one and my mother the other, but my choice is always given the preference at times of difference in opinion. So, they both found a place in the shopping bag and the expenditure amounted to Rs. 70
Well, the atmosphere there stirred the artist within me and I decided to spend the next couple of days making some pot craft. Well, maybe I can display them in the next post if things worked the way I planned. So, for that I bought 2 of them of varying shapes and sizes costing me Rs. 55
Next stop was at a small craft shop selling household accessories. I needed some glittery tiny plastic floral patterns and got it for just Rs.10
We then strolled for a while looking at the various things on display. Bags, purses, clutches, curtains, tops, ready made salwars, sandals, diyas(earthen lamps), rangoli powder, marigold and jasmine garlands, lotuses, hanging electric lamps, sweets and savory snacks and so much more. Everytime, a scooty or a bike passed by the narrow lane amidst the ever-growing crowd, it became difficult to walk at a steady pace.
I then noticed a small boy selling hair clips, so we stopped by him. He said it costs Rs.10 for 5 clips. Well, I really couldn't believe, even the ones being sold in the trains will cost you atleast Rs. 5 for one. After a little close inspection, it seemed not all were in good condition, but anyways I decided to buy 5. I think most of the ventures need a little spark to create a fire. Similarly, by the time I handed over the money to him, there were 5 more ladies hovering around his little display. Well, I hope he had a good sale.
Next, there was this guava seller with his cart at the other side of the road. A few ladies were already making a dash for it. Why wait when there is actually a worth for money thing on sale. So, we bought 5 guavas for Rs. 20. Anyways, there is no dearth of fruits and veggies at the market so we buy them fresh anytime we want.
Well, we thought we should leave now and that's when a man selling earrings and rings caught my attention. I didn't get the colour I was looking for but I was happy to buy a pair of white coloured earrings costing me Rs.10.
Finally, a mehendi cone costing Rs.10 and an auto trip back home, summing the total spend to Rs. 200 was all it took to enjoy the evening.
I am sure I wouldn't have enjoyed as much as I did today if we had spent the evening in a mall and more so over all these things at this rate would have definitely not been on sale.
This is the real India !! Who says Rs. 5 has lost value? When I think of the money these hawkers and street vendors make in a day and the profit that they would have earned, I feel we really must think the next time we visit a mall or an air conditioned eatery and pull out a Rs.100 note. These are the people who know the real worth of hard earned money, every single rupee amounts to the day's meal for them and their family.
We don't bargain at malls, we don't bargain at ever open air conditioned eateries, we don't bargain with the cab drivers but why do we hold on tightly to our purse's string when dealing with the street vendors. They don't even sell wares beyond hundred rupees, most of them slated for over Rs.5 or Rs. 10. It is festival time for them too, Rs.10 which you didn't bargain for would have led his family enjoy the day's meal a little more.
So, next time you shop, think about this. Life is after all, a continuous give and take story that intertwines people's lives.
A very Happy Diwali to all of you !!!!!!!!
It's been 6 months since I had written a post. May be I was lacking the energy or drive to write one. But something that I experienced today, left me determined to write one.
Today, on the eve of Diwali, my mother and I went for a little stroll and combined it with a little shopping. There is something called Monday Market at the place we live, where things are on display at several streets of the market area. Also, the shops remain open. One can see the perfect harmony of shop owners and hawkers here.
Moreover, on the occasion of Diwali or Deepavali, the festival of lights, the trees on either side of the road were decorated with small coloured electric light bulbs giving a complete new look to the place. You name what you want and you will find one. But yes, you can bargain to get the same thing at a lower rate. Even without the bargaining, they are sold at an affordable and agreeable rate.
Speaking of malls,even the products you wouldn't find there will be on sale here in these crowded streets. All you have to do is a bit of walking. So, holding a big shopping bag in one hand and the other one wrapped around my mother's arm, I set out for a real Indian shopping.
First, we bought some jasmine garlands for the occasion and then later we halted at a shop displaying the latest range of rangoli designs. I choose one and my mother the other, but my choice is always given the preference at times of difference in opinion. So, they both found a place in the shopping bag and the expenditure amounted to Rs. 70
Well, the atmosphere there stirred the artist within me and I decided to spend the next couple of days making some pot craft. Well, maybe I can display them in the next post if things worked the way I planned. So, for that I bought 2 of them of varying shapes and sizes costing me Rs. 55
Next stop was at a small craft shop selling household accessories. I needed some glittery tiny plastic floral patterns and got it for just Rs.10
We then strolled for a while looking at the various things on display. Bags, purses, clutches, curtains, tops, ready made salwars, sandals, diyas(earthen lamps), rangoli powder, marigold and jasmine garlands, lotuses, hanging electric lamps, sweets and savory snacks and so much more. Everytime, a scooty or a bike passed by the narrow lane amidst the ever-growing crowd, it became difficult to walk at a steady pace.
I then noticed a small boy selling hair clips, so we stopped by him. He said it costs Rs.10 for 5 clips. Well, I really couldn't believe, even the ones being sold in the trains will cost you atleast Rs. 5 for one. After a little close inspection, it seemed not all were in good condition, but anyways I decided to buy 5. I think most of the ventures need a little spark to create a fire. Similarly, by the time I handed over the money to him, there were 5 more ladies hovering around his little display. Well, I hope he had a good sale.
Next, there was this guava seller with his cart at the other side of the road. A few ladies were already making a dash for it. Why wait when there is actually a worth for money thing on sale. So, we bought 5 guavas for Rs. 20. Anyways, there is no dearth of fruits and veggies at the market so we buy them fresh anytime we want.
Well, we thought we should leave now and that's when a man selling earrings and rings caught my attention. I didn't get the colour I was looking for but I was happy to buy a pair of white coloured earrings costing me Rs.10.
Finally, a mehendi cone costing Rs.10 and an auto trip back home, summing the total spend to Rs. 200 was all it took to enjoy the evening.
I am sure I wouldn't have enjoyed as much as I did today if we had spent the evening in a mall and more so over all these things at this rate would have definitely not been on sale.
This is the real India !! Who says Rs. 5 has lost value? When I think of the money these hawkers and street vendors make in a day and the profit that they would have earned, I feel we really must think the next time we visit a mall or an air conditioned eatery and pull out a Rs.100 note. These are the people who know the real worth of hard earned money, every single rupee amounts to the day's meal for them and their family.
We don't bargain at malls, we don't bargain at ever open air conditioned eateries, we don't bargain with the cab drivers but why do we hold on tightly to our purse's string when dealing with the street vendors. They don't even sell wares beyond hundred rupees, most of them slated for over Rs.5 or Rs. 10. It is festival time for them too, Rs.10 which you didn't bargain for would have led his family enjoy the day's meal a little more.
So, next time you shop, think about this. Life is after all, a continuous give and take story that intertwines people's lives.
A very Happy Diwali to all of you !!!!!!!!
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